The Starley Sportive cycle ride, organised by Deeley Group and Coventry Road Club, initially raised £4,500 – but the total was boosted by a further £2,500 thanks to private sponsorship from two riders, taking the overall amount to £7,000.

It costs £4,200 to support one child for one week at Zoë’s Place Baby Hospice, with care for a day for six children costing £3,600.

Marc Dwyer, challenge events officer at Zoë’s Place Baby Hospice , said: “The babies and infants face challenges every day that many of us would take for granted. So it really is apt that people took on the challenge of a bike ride to help us.”

Some of the more than 260 cyclists from the Deeley Group and Coventry Road Club

Edward Hudson, business development manager at the Deeley Group, added: “We have been long-standing supporters of Zoë’s Place Baby Hospice. The charity does brilliant work and it is fantastic that we have been able to raise so much to support them.”

Ian Court, of the Coventry Road Club, said: “In addition to the ride, we also held a great prize draw, raising £275 and I would like to thank all the companies that donated prizes.”